JD Wetherspoon pulls out of VAT Club

But the firm said it will continue to campaign for a VAT reduction on food and drink within the hospitality sector and aims to set up a new organisation to continue the campaign.

The news comes after Oakman Inns founder and CEO Peter Borg Neal told the Publican's Morning Advertiser last week that the VAT Club in its current form would not work​.

Tim Martin was one of the most dedicated campaigners to the Club, and called out previous PMA editor Rob Willock in last year's financial results for JDW for not supporting the campaign. He then slammed Willock's response, calling it a 'bizarre piece of journalism'​.

Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said: “Jacques Borel has done an amazing job campaigning for a VAT cut over the past five years.

“He has led the way and has made great progress in terms of raising the profile of the case for a VAT cut and also for engaging with MPs and policy makers.

“I hope that those in the industry will appreciate the time and effort that he has put into the campaign.

“It is a shame that some big companies have not supported the campaign to date.

“I have decided that Wetherspoon can no longer support the VAT Club in its present form and believe there now needs to be an alliance of companies who believe, as I do, that a VAT cut is vital for the future of the hospitality sector.

“I will be working hard in the coming weeks to take this forward.”